GM Delivers Hybrid Buses To Louisville

Hybrid buses save up to 60% on fuel, reduce emissions by up to 90%

LOUISVILLE, KY September 22, 2004; Transit Authority of River City (TARC) set a great environmental example this week by adding five hybrid buses to its mass transit fleet. Louisville joins the growing ranks of communities investing in transit buses powered by General Motor's hybrid technology, which offers up to 60-percent-greater fuel economy and up to 90-percent-cleaner emissions.

TARC Executive Director J. Barry Barker welcomed U. S. Rep. Anne Northup, who was instrumental in securing funding for the project, along with key local leaders as they announced the delivery in a press conference Tuesday at the Louisville Zoo.

Rep. Northup, who secured a $3 million federal grant for the hybrid buses said, "The addition of hybrid buses to the TARC fleet is a significant step towards improving the quality of life for not only bus riders, but also for residents of those neighborhoods that include bus routes. Hybrid buses will help the local environment by reducing emissions and reducing noise pollution as well."

There are currently 330 GM-hybrid-equipped buses operating in North America. If America's nine largest cities were to replace its existing fleet of 13,000 transit buses with hybrid buses, the nation would save approximately 40 million gallons of fuel a year.

"GM's hybrid technology offers significantly improved fuel economy, along with reduced noise and emissions - qualities that are particularly important and beneficial in cities like Louisville," said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of Environment and Energy. "We applaud TARC for its efforts to protect the environment today, and to help preserve it for generations to come."

In addition to improved fuel economy and dramatically lower emissions, the GM hybrid system delivers superior torque, derived from the dual electric motors used to launch from a stop, and 50-percent-better acceleration than conventional diesel buses. Gillig Corp., of Hayward, Calif., manufactures the buses.

"This bus, the first of its kind to come to Kentucky, employs the most efficient hybrid architecture available in the world today, and is the first step in a larger GM initiative," said Tom Stephens, group vice president of GM Powertrain.

This is the first step in TARC's journey toward better, cleaner, more economical bus technology. These hybrid electric buses will be significantly cleaner than the 1989 conventional diesel buses they are replacing. The buses will have the same body style as the traditional TARC buses, but with a bright design and the "Breathe easier" slogan. The five new hybrid buses will be on the road by the end of 2004.